In Japanese folklore Tennyo are heavenly beings who appear as extraordinarily beautiful women. They sometimes fly down to earth wearing magical feathered kimonos. There are many tales in Japan of love stories between Tennyo and human men. Similarly to western swan maiden or selkie legends, if the husband hides the feather kimono, the Tennyo will not be able to return home to heaven. It's in the Buddhist heaven that they are believed to serve the heavenly emperor and entertain the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas with music, singing, dancing and poetry.

🎨Unknown ukiyo-e artist, Edo period.